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FormerPresident Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that he was not seriously planning providing Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. When questioned by a reporter on Air Force One, he replied, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had indicated the U.S. Department of Defense told the White House that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this delivery.

Ukrainian Military Efforts Persist Despite Weapon Shortage

While Ukraine has been pursuing Tomahawk missiles to execute long-range attacks against Russian targets, it has still succeeded to wage a successful operation using its domestically-produced drones and missiles against Russian armed and strategic objectives, including oil depots and refineries. This past Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike hit the port facility on the Black Sea, causing a fire and damaging two ships, as stated by Russian officials. Nearby Russian airports in the area also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Alternative Crude Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refineries are increasing procurement of alternative crude in reaction to the recent western restrictions on Russia, according to industry sources. Turkey is a significant buyer of Russian crude, along with China and India, but refiners are mirroring New Delhi's lead in reducing imports.

SOCAR Turkey Plant Expands Crude Procurement

A major Turkey's refining plants, the STAR refinery, operated by Azerbaijani company SOCAR, has recently purchased four cargoes of crude from Iraqi, Kazakh, and additional alternative producers for December arrival, according to insiders. This amount to roughly tens of thousands of barrels daily of non-Russian crude, varying by shipment volume. By comparison, Russian crude accounted for nearly all of the plant's supply in October and September, amounting to approximately 210,000 barrels per day, based on market data. SOCAR declined to comment.

Another Major Refiner Also Increasing Alternative Purchases

The other major Turkish oil processor – Tupras – was also increasing purchases of non-Russian grades of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was also expected to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at one of its primary major domestic refineries to continue petroleum shipments to the EU without violating the European Union's upcoming sanctions. Tupras declined to comment to a inquiry for comment.

Ukraine Deploys Elite Units to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the heavily contested eastern city of Pokrovsk in an effort to repel an fierce Moscow's offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, as stated by Kyiv’s top commander. Pokrovsk, called “the entrance to Donetsk,” lies on a major supply line for the Ukrainian military and has been in Russia's crosshairs for over a year as Russia aims to control the entire eastern Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in the City

No fewer than two hundred Russian soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defences, Kyiv reported last week, while analysts assessed that additional forces were closing in on its outskirts in a encircling maneuver. In his evening address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the combat in the city and “results in the destruction of the occupiers.”

Zelenskyy Reveals Strengthened Air Defense Network

Zelenskyy, who has been urging his allies for more air defense systems to hold off Russia’s strikes, announced on this past Sunday that Ukraine had reinforced its air-defence network with Germany’s assistance. “We have boosted the Patriot component of our Ukrainian air defence,” he declared, referring to the sophisticated American air-defence systems. Without providing additional details, the Ukrainian president singled out Germany and its leader, the German chancellor, for gratitude.

Russian Attacks Kill Civilians, Disrupt Power

Russian drones and rockets targeting Ukraine killed no fewer than 6 individuals, among them 2 minors, and disrupted electricity to thousands of households, authorities reported on Sunday. Moscow's military attacked the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, according to the representatives of the country's chief prosecutor. The children were two boys aged eleven and fourteen, said the nation's human rights commissioner. Russia’s attacks disrupted power to the whole east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand homes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. The Vostok military unit said some of its personnel were killed in a particular of the Russian attacks on the region.